In an emotional and deeply personal revelation, Green Bay Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst has shared heartbreaking news about his wife, Jen Gutekunst, who has been battling the autoimmune disease lupus since 2021. The 49-year-old mother of four has reportedly been bedridden in recent months due to complications from the disease.
Gutekunst, who is known for his poise and strategic leadership in the NFL, stepped away from his usual football focus to address the devastating reality his family has been living with behind the scenes.
“My wife Jen has always been the foundation of our family. She’s strong, resilient, and full of grace. But lupus has changed everything,” Gutekunst said during a quiet, somber moment in a recent interview. “It’s been a long, painful road, and watching someone you love fight a disease with no cure—it’s heartbreaking.”
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues and organs. The disease can affect the joints, skin, kidneys, heart, and brain. While treatments exist to help manage the symptoms, there is no known cure. For many like Jen, it can mean a life of constant fatigue, pain, and isolation.
The Gutekunsts, who met while attending the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, have been married for over two decades and have raised four children together — three daughters and a son. The family has maintained a relatively private life in Hobart, Wisconsin, but the impact of Jen’s illness has made privacy difficult to preserve.
“She’s been mostly confined to bed for over a year,” Brian continued. “Our kids have had to grow up fast, and I’ve had to juggle being a husband, a father, and a GM. But we are doing our best, and we’re sticking together.”
Support has been pouring in from the Packers organization and fans alike, with many praising Jen’s bravery and Brian’s unwavering commitment to both his family and his team.
Despite the challenges, Brian Gutekunst remains hopeful. “Jen may be physically limited, but her spirit is still fierce. We don’t know what the future holds, but we know we’re not giving up.”
The story of Jen Gutekunst’s fight is a reminder that even those in high-profile, high-pressure roles carry deeply personal burdens. And behind every play called and every draft pick made, there are families facing struggles most of us never see.
